Lingering memories of the Seven Mountains

At the end of November in the lunar calendar, I had the opportunity to revisit the Bay Nui region, a land I had been connected to for over 10 years. It felt like an old friend welcoming me back, with its picturesque scenery and simple, honest people.

Picturesque scenery

Returning to Bay Nui at dawn, I wandered along the winding roads through the fields at the foot of the ancient mountains. On either side of the road, patches of reeds swayed gently in the wind. This season in Bay Nui still had a lot of morning mist covering the vast rice fields, with glimpses of palm trees bearing fruit. Dew clung to the grass along the roadside, reflecting the sunlight with a sparkling glow.

Highway 949 crosses the Ta Lot valley. Photo: THANH TIEN

The climate in Bay Nui this season can be summed up in two words: "pleasant." For nature lovers, the scenery of Bay Nui is quite poetic. For me, Bay Nui is at its most beautiful this season. This is the moment when the coolness of the weather blends with the flourishing of plants and trees welcoming the new spring. In the distance, Mount Cam is still lush green. In the early mornings, the "roof of the Mekong Delta" still has patches of clouds drifting across its slopes. The cloud season alone in Mount Cam is a unique highlight of this region.

Along Provincial Road 949, from Tinh Bien Ward through An Cu Commune to Tri Ton Commune, visitors will be delighted by the majestic natural scenery. From Provincial Road 949, visitors can see Phu Cuong Mountain, Dai Mountain, Cam Mountain, and several other mountains nestled in the distance. A unique feature is that this road passes through the Ta Lot Valley at the foot of Cam and Dai Mountains, offering visitors a breathtaking view. During the rainy season, this area becomes a "paradise" of fruits and vegetables. In the dry season, the Ta Lot Valley transforms into a sun-drenched landscape, with the characteristic dry, scorching heat of the mountainous region.

The highlight of this semi-mountainous region is its highland irrigation lakes. These lakes were formed from the determination of people to "live in harmony" with nature, to "awaken" the value of this arid, sun-scorched land and transform it into a place for cultivation. Visiting Ta Lot Lake at the foot of Mount Cam, the picturesque scenery is breathtaking. In front, the clear lake reflects the mountains like a giant mirror. In the distance, the mountains stand majestically, bathed in sunlight and wind. This is a combination of human development thinking and the inherent beauty of nature. Therefore, the irrigation lakes in Bay Nui attract many young people who come here to enjoy the stunning natural landscape, contributing to the charming and dreamy atmosphere of An Giang province.

A genuine person

Besides its picturesque scenery and unique climate, the Bay Nui region also impressed me with the beauty of its people. Having traveled extensively throughout this land for nearly 10 years, I can't remember how many people I've met or how many heartwarming stories I've heard. However, the common thread among them is their sincerity and enthusiasm in every encounter.

How can we forget the stories of the Khmer people's harvests by the water channels of the 3/2 pumping station system? Driven by the desire to bring water to higher ground, generations of people in Tịnh Biên have brought water from the Vĩnh Tế canal, raising it more than 10 meters above sea level to irrigate the "white desert" region of An Cư - Văn Giáo - Vĩnh Trung. From relying on rainwater, farmers in this area have become accustomed to intensive farming and increasing crop yields to improve their income and living standards.

Returning from a hard day's work in the fields, Mr. Chau Tang, a farmer from An Cu commune, enthusiastically shared his farming stories. This year, the rainy season lasted longer, so the Khmer people planted extra rice and bean crops to increase their income. Water from the 3/2 pumping station system helps Mr. Chau Tang cultivate crops year-round, improving his living standards. Those with fields far from the irrigation canals also planted peanuts, sweet potatoes, cassava, and mung beans to improve their lives.

Beyond the stories of farming, I also had the opportunity to meet Khmer women toiling in the fields. They told me about the traditional craft of weaving, passed down from mother to daughter through many generations. From them, I understood the 17-step transformation process of silk threads into finished handcrafted products. From them, I sensed the determination of Khmer women in preserving and developing this craft, which has become a distinctive cultural feature of their ethnic group.

“The art of brocade weaving was passed down to me by my grandmother and mother, and no matter how difficult it is, I must preserve it to pass it on to my daughters,” affirmed brocade weaver Néang Chanh Ty, residing in An Cư commune. Now, Néang Chanh Ty and other women in Srây Skốth hamlet are continuing their dream of bringing their products to serve tourism , so that the Khmer brocade weaving village of Văn Giáo will endure through time.

Throughout my travels, I also encountered horse-drawn carriages rattling along the roads of the Seven Mountains, and diligent locals climbing palm trees to harvest the "nectar" of nature. They were all as genuine as the land they were born in, leaving unforgettable impressions on those who had been connected to it, like me.

Returning here after long journeys, I still find the Seven Mountains region strangely endearing. Perhaps I will visit this land many more times to fully appreciate the beauty of nature and people, and to cherish the beauty of the land and people of An Giang.

THANH TIEN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/van-vuong-bay-nui-a473894.html